Lecture History of International Relations: short summary

Hoorcollege Relations

History

of

International

8 2009

December

⋆International cooperation Vienna 1815: Concert of Europe/Congress System  Balance of power and some sort of understanding among Great Powers Bob Reinalda, Routledge History of International Organizations (2009) p25. League of Nations Principles: New machinery:

Self-determination Open diplomacy Permanent body Mandates

United States, Soviet Union and Germany did not join in 1919 US: isolationism SU: communism Germany: lost WWI Minor conflicts solved: Island dispute between Sweden and Finland Territorial dispute between Germany and Poland  League of Nations was only capable of solving minor conflicts between minor nations International “invention”: Manchuria conflict – Japanese invasion of China (1931) Italy invasion of Ethiopia (1935)  League of Nations condemned the invasions, but took no effective action Resignation of members: Japan left the organization in 1933, Italy in 1937 Germany (who became a member in 1926) withdrawed in 1933 Soviet Union (member since 1934) was expelled in 1939 United Nations 1945: Atlantic Charter signed in San Francisco by 51 member states New machinery: Security Council with veto power for the 5 General Assembly Issues in AC: Access to raw materials for all members Abandonment of use of force

Disarmament of powerful nations International cooperation United Nations during the Cold War China – Taiwan issue Expansion from 51 to 192 member states General Assembly became forum for debate Declaration on human rights (1948) Focus on political and civil rights (protection from arbitrary arrests, imprisonment…)

International intervention: Mediation by Secretary-General Peacekeeping missions (began with Suez Crisis) ✔ Korean War (1950-1953) (condemded attack by North Korea, but only because the SU was temporarily expelled)

✔ Gulf War (1990-1991)  Encouraged by US to take measures  Show the world how the UN could function, how it was successfully structured Dissolution of Yugoslavia: 1989: Yugoslavia 1991: Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia separated 1992: Bosnia-Herzegovina separated 1995: War in Bosnia ends 1999: Kosovo crisis 2006: Montenegro separated 2008: Kosovo declared independence War in Bosnia • Mediation and sanctions • Peacekeeping missions in Croatia and Bosnia ➢ Lightly armed, not allowed to intervene on their own, unless they were shot at • American pressure ( Dayton agreement in 1996, supervision by UN, NATO and EU missions) Kosovo crisis • Separatism of Albanians • ‘Ethnic cleansing’ by Serbia ( NATO intervention in 1999, causing the resignation of Milosovic) • Kosovo became a UN protectorate, with NATO and EU peacekeeping missions • Proclaimed itself independent in 2008

A new role for the EU? Pressure to develop a common foreign and defense policy in the 1990s Widening and deepening ✔ Internal market and common currency as final pieces of European economic integration ✔ Apart from foreign policy more cooperation in other fields (border control e.g.) ✔ Enlargement process started with 10 new members in 2004 ✔ Limited internal reform ✔ EU president Herman van Rompuy (2009) European integration Earlier attempts:

1952: 1957: 1967: 1992: …

Benelux customs union (only 3 members) Office for European Economic Cooperation ✔ planning Marshall aid Council of Europe ✔ Humanitarian issues ✔ Cultural issues ✔ Social issues

European Coal and Steel Community Treaty of Rome (European Economic Community/Euratom) merger of the 3 into European Community) European Union

History of international relations ✔ Overview of major developments from 1648 to the 21st century; focus on development of modern state system and great power rivalries ✔ Understanding of long-term historical processes and moments of change  Nationalism  Imperialism  Globalization  International organizations ✔ Impact of historical context in general ✔ The danger of finalism